Monday in Easter Week

Monday in Easter Week

The Collect

Almighty God, who
through thy only-begotten Son Jesus Christ hast overcome death, and
opened unto us the gate of everlasting life; We humbly beseech
thee, that, as by thy special grace preventing us thou dost put
into our minds good desires, so by thy continual help we may bring
the same to good effect; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth
and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world
without end. Amen.

For the Epistle

Acts 10.34-43

Peter opened his
mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of
persons; but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh
righteousness, is accepted with him. The word which God sent unto
the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ; (he is
Lord of all;) that word, I say, ye know, which was published
throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism
which John preached: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the
Holy Ghost, and with power; who went about doing good, and healing
all that were oppressed of the devil: for God was with him. And we
are witnesses of all things which he did, both in the land of the
Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew, and hanged on a tree: him
God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; not to all the
people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who
did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. And he
commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is
he who was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. To
him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever
believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

The Gospel

St. Luke 24.13-35

Behold, two of his
disciples went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was
from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. And they talked together
of all these things which had happened. And it came to pass, that
while they communed together, and reasoned, Jesus himself drew
near, and went with them. But their eyes were holden, that they
should not know him. And he said unto them, What manner of
communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk,
and are sad? And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering
said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not
known the things which are come to pass there in these days? And he
said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning
Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word,
before God and all the people: and how the chief priests and our
rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified
him. But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed
Israel: and beside all this, to-day is the third day since these
things were done. Yea, and certain women also of our company made
us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre; and when they
found not his body, they came, saying that they had also seen a
vision of angels, which said that he was alive. And certain of them
which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as
the women had said; but him they saw not. Then he said unto them, O
fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have
spoken: ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to
enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses, and all the prophets,
he expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning
himself. And they drew nigh unto the village whither they went; and
he made as though he would have gone further: but they constrained
him, saying, Abide with us: for it is towards evening, and the day
is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them. And it came to
pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it,
and brake, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they
knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. And they said one to
another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us
by the way, and while he opened to us the Scriptures? And they rose
up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven
gathered together, and them that were with them, saying, The Lord
is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. And they told what
things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in
breaking of bread.

Text from The Book of Common Prayer, the
rights in which are vested in the Crown,
is reproduced by permission of the Crown's Patentee, Cambridge
University Press.

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